Send Your Jewelry Back-to-School!

Even if going to school is a distant memory, the fall still evokes a sense of new beginnings and getting a handle on things — like your jewelry. Here are four tips for getting your gems — including jewelry from estates and members of your family — into back-to-school shape. (And you don’t even have to pack a lunch!)

1. Morning Assembly. If your jewelry is scattered, begin by putting it in one place so you can see the scope of what you have. You might find that you have an extra string of pearls or a gold chain from that overseas trip many years ago that you’ve totally overlooked.

2. Clean out your locker. As an adjunct to #1, make sure you’ve scouted around to find any outlying jewelry. Corners of drawers and old jewelry pouches have treasures that you may overlook.

3. Go on a field trip. When you’re ready to make an inventory of your jewelry, don’t forget to include the contents of yours — and family members’ — safe deposit boxes. If you’re taking stock of an older relative’s property, be sure to ask them about “hiding places.” Old shoe boxes, bottoms of dress bags, and other out-of-the-way places are just some of the spots that older generations have been known to stash valuables. Don’t let something be inadvertently thrown out because you didn’t know, or they couldn’t communicate, where it was hidden.

3. Make study notes. Take a hard look at what you have and what you might be willing to sell, trade in, restyle, or pass along to relatives. Tastes and styles change. Maybe you don’t have as many formal affairs to go to as you used to.

4. Get some tutoring. This is the time to put your hard work into action and get some help from an expert. Is your insurance up-to-date for everything you’ve found? Do you need updated appraisals to protect you in case of theft or loss? If you’ve decided to divest any of your bracelets, necklaces, watches, or earrings, you’ll also need to know their value, so you can be sure to get what you are owed.

As always, let me know what I can help with!